These are the chemical agents which provide the safety to human body
from the damage caused by the free radical in the body. Antioxidants have the
capability to neutralise the free radical and prevent the damage. Basically
antioxidants are phytochemical, vitamins and other nutrients which save our
body from the attack of free radical damage. Free radical damages are generally
very harmful for the body since that is related with the heart diseases and
cancer in the body (Schmitz, 2009). The figure below shows the structure of
antioxidant. Free radicals are the particles which get originated from the
toxic elements inside our body and cause serious harm to the body parts by not
allowing proper oxygen flow inside our body.

Generally antioxidants are found in phytochemical elements, vegetable
and fruits are the rich sources of the antioxidants. Two main benefits of the
antioxidants are their capability to save against cancer and heart diseases.
Some of the well known examples of the antioxidants include vitamin E, C and
Beta Carotene (Kerksick, 2008). Other then Vitamin E and Vitamin C other
sources of antioxidants include various acids like Lipoic acid, ascorbic acid
and other acid which are a part of the fruits. List of all antioxidants is as
given below:

List of Oxidants

Sr. No.

Antioxidant

Solubility

1

@-Tocopherol
(Vitamin-E)

Lipid

2

Ascorbic
Acid (Vitamin-C)

Water

3

Lipoic Acid

Water

4

Uric Acid

Water

5

Carotenes

Lipid

6

Ubiquinol

Lipid

7

Glutathione

Water

The figure below shows the lipid action of antioxidants on free
radicals:

Free radicals particles contain the negative oxygen ion with them
which are free in nature and try to oxidize by reacting with other chemical
particles (Grivetti, 1997). The hydric ion
present in the lipid structure of the antioxidants get reacted with the free
radical particles in order to neutralise the free oxygen molecules contained in
the free radical elements which are very harmful for the body since they do not
allow smooth flow of oxygen inside the body. These hydric ions react with free
radicals and neutralise these particles there by providing the free oxygen flow
inside the body which is very crucial for the proper functioning of the body.
Since this electron ion present in the free radical particles tend to react
with the digestion system of the body or try to damage the cells inside the
body these damaged cells inside the body do not get recover again hence man
suffer with the problem of immature ageing problem that is why neutralisation
of free electron in body in very important (Richard
B, 2007).

Use by Athletes

Athletes do exercises and due to these exercise chemical reactions
takes place in the body which gives rise
to the free radicals (called reactive oxygen species) in their body and hence
causes oxidative stress to their body, dietary oxidants help in the releasing
the oxidative stress from the athlete body. But their role as the performance
enhancer is still doubtful. Rigorous training of athletes enables them to
release more amounts of free radicals. Strenuous exercise enhances the need of
oxidants for athletes (Joel M., 2006). These
free radicals damage the cells, DNA and the aerobic capability of athletes.
These free radicals also stresses the muscle cells of the body, to prevent that
antioxidants which are taken by the foods and supplements helps in maintaining
integrity of the cell membrane for the athletes thereby carry out movement of
oxygen for effectively and efficiently.

Antioxidants which are contained in Vitamin C provides the
capability of powerful immune system for the body since most of the athletes
have the risk to suffer with the disease of URTI which is Upper respiratory
tract infection. Since due to the competitive training and exercise athlete
generally suffers from coughing problem, Vitamin C helps the athletes to combat
these problems. The impact of antioxidants is slow in nature i.e. it takes
several years to show its effect (Hoffman, 2009).

Antioxidants are considered to be as the insurance agents against
the free radicals since in the longer time duration they help the athletes to
combat free radicals damage. Antioxidants are must for the diet of athletes who
exercise hard in their life since these antioxidants help in reducing the
infection from the body and make fast recovery for any kind of damage to their
body (Michael, 2008).

Role of antioxidants in
the body

Free radicals cause harm in the body by affecting respiratory system
and cause stress in the body. The main purpose of the antioxidants is to
neutralise these free radical particles and allow the free movement of oxygen
in the body. Antioxidants help in maintaining healthy balance in the body (Boozer, 1995). By consuming antioxidants
regularly they help in removing bacteria from our immune system. Free radicals
attacks on the body cells hence do not allow the cells to reproduce correctly
there by giving rise to a number of diseases in the body like coronary heart
disease, cancer, inflammatory diseases and cataracts etc.

The source of free radical in our body originates from our eating
habits, our living conditions and our society etc. These particles give rise to
the free radicals which are basically unstable oxygen molecules with some
amount of free electrons with them. Hence these free electrons available with
the free radicals get reacted with our body system and hence causes damage to
our body (Clark, 2000). These free electron
pair available with the free radicals wants to oxidize. This oxidation process
carried out by the free radicals in carcinogenic in nature. Hence this
oxidation process carried out in this manner can cause premature ageing,
cancer, cataract and other immune system related problems inside the body.

Antioxidants have the other
free electrons pair with them due to these the electron pair available with
free radicals get reacted with these and get neutralises hence saving our body
from the harm caused by the free radicals inside our body (Lyle BJ, 1999). The reaction of the antioxidants
with free radicals neutralise these particles giving rise to free flow of
oxygen inside the human body. The action of antioxidants in our body is like
sponges and hence these sponges soak up the free radicals particles having the
free valence electrons with them.

Antioxidants which are essentially taken in our body from the
sources like vegetables, fruits, and certain oils like lemon oil and orange
oils help the body to maintain the proper amount of antioxidants in our body
which continuously fights with the free radicals (Harman,
1956). These oils added with certain other nutrients like Ningxia
wolfberries, juices from blueberries and pomegranate provides the rich source
of antioxidants which neutralises the free radical particles in the body.

The main roles served by the antioxidants inside our body are as
follows:

Increased energy Levels: The antioxidants which help the body to recover fast from the
tough physical work done by the body. This physical exercise done by body try
to break the cells, these cells get damage and do not remain in proper
condition for the further reproduction system which is required by the
body since in body due to intense physical work there is always wear and
tear happens inside the body and if reproduction system works properly
then the energy level of the body remains in the proper amount (Harman, 1972). Antioxidant neutralise free
radicals and hence body cells do not get damage easily and the
reproduction system remains in proper condition and there is almost zero
wear and tear in the body. Hence the energy level inside body is well
maintained and body feels energetic.

Protect immune system: The free radicals particles tries to get oxidize quickly by
reacting with the immune system of the body hence thereby causing damage
to our immune system (Glewwe P, 2001).
Free radical particles when enter inside our immune system do not allow
immune system to make proper flow of oxygen inside the body.

Better liver
functioning: Antioxidants particles
neutralises the free radicals hence thereby giving the proper functioning
of the liver (Whitley JR, 1951). These
antioxidants help the liver to filter out the toxins elements from the
food particles which enter inside body with food particle and harm the
liver.

Proper Sleep cycle: Antioxidants helps in maintaining the sleep cycle inside body
thereby providing the proper body functioning. This antioxidant maintain
the sleep cycle by releasing the stress from the body so that person can
complete his sleep cycle and maintain the body functioning in proper
manner (Mauro G., 2008).

Protect from cancer: Antioxidants helps the body to save from the particles which
causes cancer inside human body by neutralising these agents. Antioxidants
keep our blood in good health and hence due to that our body cells do not
die so easily hence diseases like cancer can be cured very well. Since the
main reason of the cancer disease is the dying cells inside the body.

Strengthen capillary
walls: Antioxidants helps in protecting the
capillary walls inside the body by maintaining the blood in good condition
(Christen, 2001). These capillary
walls help in protecting from the cardiovascular diseases.

Skin Protection: Antioxidants protects the skin from any kind of damages by
saving the elastin fibres. It saves from the various allergies which arise
due to the harmful chemicals taken inside the body with food and other
environmental interactions.

Ageing protection: The problem of immature ageing can also be cured by the
action of antioxidants inside the body since antioxidants help in building
atherosclerosis which prevents the immature ageing problem in human body.
Generally the body cells get damage slowly due to the hard work out and do
not get heal soon, antioxidants with their protective action allow these
cells to grow again so that the body growth can be carried out in smooth
manner and immature ageing can be stopped in human beings.

Antioxidant
supplementations and athlete’s performance

There are various researches which have happened in order to get the
effects of antioxidants on athletes. The following table summed up some of the
studies done on the antioxidants and their corresponding impacts on the
athlete’s performance:

Research

Type of Vitamin

Type of exercise

Amount and duration( pre, during or post exercise)

Effects on performance

Dietary antioxidants

Vitamin C

Eccentric exercise

4 weeks

Small beneficial effect but unacceptable risk
of harmful effect

Botanical antioxidants

Vitamin C

Cycling

3 weeks

39% increment in run time

Absorption

Fructose and maltodextrin

Cycling

3 weeks

No significant difference

Nicotine patches

Nicotine

Cycling

2 weeks

Considerable enhancement in cycling time

Blind controlled trial

Fish oil

Eccentric exercise

3 weeks

Small or trivial impacts

A
study done on dietary antioxidants on 23 female runners who undergoes
eccentric exercise and overload training in their regular schedule.
Athletes were given Isocaloric drink which was having blackcurrant
extract, vitamin C and Placebo in it. After 3 weeks of training and
performance test there were small benefits of the antioxidants while the
risk was there of harmful effects of the medicine.

Another
study done on botanical antioxidants which was
related to the recovery of damaged cells and performance of athlete. After
two weeks of exercise with team sport athletes they were given almond diet
and as the result of this there was 46% increase in run time of the
athletes (Comstock,
2000).

A study done on the impact of Fish oil which
was carried out with the 10 athletes for 3 weeks who were undergone
eccentric exercise shows there were small impact on the recovery of
damaged cells inside the body and the energy level enhancement as well.

A
study done on the 51 cyclist who were given doses of carbohydrate at a rate of ~70 g.h-1 shows
sign of massive improvement in their run time of more than 43%.

Adverse impacts of antioxidants on human body

In a
study carried out to identify various possible adverse impacts of
antioxidants on human body certain phenomenon were measured for any athlete.
Insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and body’s capability to produce
natural antioxidants were measured before the experiment. The most harmful
impact of the antioxidants was the prevention of insulin sensitivity and
increase in body’s inner capability to fight with the diseases (Adkison,
2005). Also certain mediator substances which are
essential for the body functioning were not able to form inside the body
as harmful impact of antioxidants. The following diagram illustrates the
above phenomenon:

In one of
the study which was conducted for the
Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene (ATBC) it has been found that the patients
who were taking excess amount of beta carotene and Vitamin E were 16% more
susceptible of attack of lung cancer.

In another
study which was named as Caroteniod and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) the
patients were given 30 mg of beta carotene and Placebo was found to have
28% more chances in lung cancer.

A study named physical health study
conducted with some patients who were treated with 50 mg of beta carotene;
Vitamin E and Vitamin C were found to have toxic effects as cognitive
decline after several years of their treatment.

An athlete who was given 800 mg of Vitamin
E resulted in worse immune system and the person got died after some time
due to immune system failure.

An age related eye disease study has
shown that the person who was given Vitamin C (500 mg), Vitamin E (400 IU)
and Beta Carotene (15 mg) lost his eye sight due to affect of antioxidants
on his visuals.

The antioxidants like ascorbic acid
can cause serious damage to the urine system and can also cause long term
impacts on the body (Hatfield DL 1999).

The antioxidants like B-carotene,
Vitamin A and Vitamin C can increase the mortality in human being.

Recommendations

Antioxidant are taken in order to deoxidize
the oxygen but when the dose of antioxidants taken in proper amount then
only they work better but when overdose is taken it can cause various harm
since the Beta carotene, Vitamin E and Vitamin C are all very harmful
elements if taken in excess quantity inside body. So person should take
care that the overdose does not happen in body.

Taking the natural sources of the antioxidants
is better than taking the chemical directly so the athletes should eat
more of vegetable and fruits as the part of their daily diet since they do
not have any kind of side effects on the body. So a balanced diet is very
important for the athletes in order to take the proper amount of
antioxidants.

Taking of excess supplements will not work in
absence of the proper amount of exercise, so athletes have to exercise
regularly in order to balance the effect of supplements taken by them
without which these supplements can cause serious harm to the body.

For very hard work out like climbing up the
hills or long races proper amount of vitamin C is required inside the body
since Vitamin C keeps the energy level of the body up and help in heeling
up fast.